PNG-Australia Partnership supports improved education in East New Britain

The PNG-Australia Partnership is committed to supporting education opportunities and access for those in the most remote and hard-to-reach parts of Papua New Guinea. This was demonstrated this week, with the launching of new facilities at the Palmalmal Secondary School in Pomio, East New Britain as a result of a joint investment under the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership to improve the quality of education.

New facilities at the Palmalmal Secondary School in Pomio, East New Britain

Thanks to an innovative partnership through the Incentive Fund and the Pomio District Development Authority (DDA), the school now has eight new classrooms, two new science laboratories equipped with scientific equipment and learning resources, and a new ablution block.
The new infrastructure, which cost PGK4.5million, represents another concrete step towards improving the quality and accessibility of education throughout the country. It is also an excellent example of effective partnerships for development and marks the first time the Incentive Fund has co-funded an investment directly with a DDA.
Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis joined Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS and Pomio MP Elias Kapavore to open the new facilities on 24 September.
High Commissioner Davis also joined Gazelle MP Jelta Wong on a visit Kerevat National High School in Rabaul, where he announced an exciting new partnership between Kerevat and Benalla P-12 College in Victoria, Australia.
The partnership between Kerevat and Benalla, delivered under the recently launched PNG-Australian Partnership Secondary Schools initiative, will enable the schools to share their knowledge and experience delivering highly respected science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to the next generation of global leaders.
Through this, like-minded students from PNG and Australia will share culture, discuss challenges and work together to find common solutions.

Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis with Minister for Health & HIV/AIDS and Pomio MP Elias Kapavore, with students and staff at Kerevat National High School in Rabaul, East New Britain

For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0276